This blog post includes products that were gifted to my family throughout the year, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hey Family, I know how tough it can be to not buy your kids all the things their little hearts desire. We all want to raise kids who appreciate life without them becoming unappreciative. There is a way to get them fun things that are not toys, but will still be loved and cherished all the same. The good thing about this list is that these gifts can be for ANY child in your life, and at any time of the year. They are also pretty minimalistic, and can easily be put away. So, here are a few things on my non-toy to buy list for the kiddos in my life.
“Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.”
-Abraham Maslow
1. Personalized Wooden Name Puzzles
These puzzles have been such a hit with my kids, especially my 3 year old who is learning how to spell and write his name. Plus they make for great decorative touch to any room. You can get your letters in any color or style! You can even add your kids favorite ball or a ballerina! Head to Bloom Owl as I cannot get enough of the boys monochrome name puzzles.
2. Board Games
These games from Chuckle & Roar have made family game night the best nights of the week! My kids literally ask to play one of these games every single day! We also have their alphabet and number set, and they too foster play and learning. Don’t worry Chuckle & Roar has so many more non-toy options to choose from so be sire to head to their site.
3. Play Carpets
The IVI 3D Play Carpet has been nonstop play! I typically do not like extra rugs on top of carpet, and especially in the boys rooms, but IVI 3D Carpets have completely changed my mind. The carpets make the boys room feel so open and playful. Their imagination has been endless. Can you see this dinosaur tearing the city up?
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.”
-Diane Ackerman
4. Potty Watch
The Potty Watch has been such a cool gadget for my potty going toddler. It gives him the confidence he needs to go to the potty alone and consistently. The watch is pretty simple to set too. You would just set the timer to go off every 30, 60, or 90 mins, for consistent reminders. When time is up, the timer will automatically reset itself. How cool right? It will also play music and light up to alternating music when the time is up. The Potty Watch is the perfect way to get your child going to the potty consistently throughout the day.
5. Books
My kids love to read! It has always been my goal, ever since pregnant with my first, to foster a love for reading. I have always bought age appropriate, and books that represent my boys in every way! My boys are still not “readers”, but I encourage them to narrate what the book is about through its characters, and photos. Here are a few of our favorite books. Comment below if you’d like me to write another post about where to buy these books!
6. Puzzles
Again, representation matters so so much. I was so happy when I found Puzzle Huddle. These puzzles are so fun for the boys to figure out. When we first received them, the kids were not fans at all. After a while they became more and more interested in taking their time to figure out how to put the puzzle together. Puzzle Huddle has different sized jigsaw puzzle counts depending on the age of your child.
7. Piggy Bank
Oh, I cannot forget about gifting a piggy bank! Be sure if you gift one of these, that you put in some money as well. LOL. Piggy banks are such a great way to begin teaching your kids about finance. Yes, I used that word, lol, but honestly it begins to teach them about saving, budgeting, and prioritizing what is important. My 5 year old has set his mind on how much he wants to save and what he wants to eventually buy with his money. How amazing is that?
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.”
O. Fred Donaldson
I hope you found these options for non-toy gifts helpful!
Happy shopping & Merry Everything!
